The play “Sick with Success” is a solid dose of humor
There are plays that entertain. There are those that make you reflect. And then there is “Sick with Success” – a show that proves it’s best to laugh at yourself, especially when you’re a widely recognized person. At the Arsus Cultural Center, the audience got a solid dose of smart humor, brilliant dialogue, and great acting.
On stage was Krzysztof Ibisz, who, with a great sense of self-irony regarding his media image, played a character entangled in the world of success, fame, and the constant rat race to be the “best.” The play shows in a funny way how thin the line can be between ambition and obsession, between a career and private life, and how easy it is to get “sick” with success. Everything is served with a large dose of humor, though, meaning the audience burst into laughter every few minutes. From the very first minutes, it was clear that the actors felt right at home in their roles. The dynamic pace, spot-on comebacks, and plenty of situational humor meant there was barely a moment to catch your breath. It’s exactly plays like this that remind us that the best comedy doesn’t need fancy special effects – good actors, a well-written script, and an audience ready to have fun together are enough.
An unusual understudy in the audience
But the real cherry on top turned out to be something that happened… off stage. Sitting in the audience was Michał Wiśniewski, who is Krzysztof Ibisz’s understudy in this production. It’s hard to imagine a more unusual situation. Usually, an understudy waits backstage on standby, but here he was, calmly watching the show with the audience. So you could say it was one of the few evenings when an understudy had the chance to buy popcorn (or at least think about it) and just enjoy the performance.
Some viewers were probably glancing his way from time to time, wondering: “Will there be a substitution soon? Maybe it’s a play with a surprise?” Fortunately, Krzysztof Ibisz was in top form, so Michał Wiśniewski could safely stay in the role of… a fan. It’s probably one of the few situations where an understudy happily wishes for the main actor to not be needed for even a moment. The very presence of Michał Wiśniewski in the audience brought a smile. After all, it’s not every day you watch a play knowing that a few rows away sits a person who, under different circumstances, could end up on stage any minute. It’s a bit like watching a soccer match next to a reserve striker. Everyone hopes he won’t have to go on the pitch, but his very presence adds a unique flavor to the event.
A cast and a half in one place
The audience left the hall with wide smiles. Some quoted the best lines, others recalled the most comical scenes, and still others joked that they saw not one, but a cast and a half that evening. You have to admit that such a coincidence happens very rarely. It made the play memorable not only for the great comedy but also for this unusual situation.
So if there is a sickness worth catching, it’s definitely the one that causes fits of laughter after watching “Sick with Success”. And when Krzysztof Ibisz is performing on stage, while his understudy Michał Wiśniewski sits in the audience, the success of this evening can be considered double.